Advice ?

[Tim.243]

I can buy into that, but before you shoot rabbits, you still need to practice on paper.
M

Never have...started on rats

 

[Taff]

I am sticking to this 1
Gaining field craft from other types of quarry before shooting deer is by far the best advice I would say, followed by If it is safe in season don't dither shoot it.

Before muntjac turned up around here I would shoot somewhere around 50 + foxes a year now it is the other way around but the field craft I gained on foxes was invaluable and with the only difference is the time set out in the deer act and the foxes get a hedge ticket.
Wait ages to gain time out staking deer or go out 2/3 time in the week on other quarry! Seems like no contest to me!

Have to agree, shooting squirrels out of trees with a .22, spotting them laying flat on a branch 30 mtrs away, deer are easy once you have learnt that skill. Only points I disagree with in the thread is the Walk a Little , look a lot!, not if in a forestry block, where there are fresh slot marks, stay on there axxxe, and you will get a few, it does not take them long to look back at you, but everybody to there own.

 

[SikaSeeker]

Try to learn from your errors

 

[VSS]

Try to learn from your errors

Better to learn from other people's errors if you can. It usually works out cheaper.

 

[TringSaint]

Be patient! I was laid up waiting for a nice cwd buck to reappear from behind a pile or stone last night. Took 10-15 mins but sure enough he made his reappearance and down he went.
I could have tried to walk in closer but I knew where he would likely come out so I stayed put and patience paid off as it usually does.

 

[SikaSeeker]

Better to learn from other people's errors if you can. It usually works out cheaper.

True, but we all make mistakes

 

[Fez]

Exactly as @Freeforester says: slow down. And then slow down some more.

The other thing that really stuck in my mind was ‘the deer are where you are’.ie. Don’t plough on with a specific spot in mind. Take your time to check every step of the way.

And the final very useful bit of advice: you don’t need all the gear you think you do. I often fail to stick to this (I think we all do). But you really don’t need much, and none of it needs to be expensive. @VSS probably kills more deer than many with an entire set up worth less than the jacket some people are wearing.

Love this advise, spot on slow down don’t rush remember to take in the sounds and scenery it’s more about the experience and time in nature than about the kill

 

[Mardler]

If in doubt, dont.

 

[Mike1979]

I'm the exact opposite.
No pressure or nerves shooting a deer, but when it's a target everything goes to pot.
But apparently I'm not normal.
So my kind friends of the SD have told me.
Many times.

Your from North Wales...enough said when it comes to being "Normal"

Im from Mid Wales so Im sure you have additional sympathy for my grip on normality

 

[AlexD]

No it was a wise old guy down the pub late one Saturday night (an old poacher)
This is how I can now sneak up on a group of sika stags
View attachment 411532

They know that you know they are not in season.

 

[Utectok]

Don’t leave deer to find deer….

 

[Mungo]

They know that you know they are not in season.

Not in Scotland…

 

[Cheviot]

They know that you know they are not in season.

in range in season plus they are in Scotland

 

[Tyla]

I'm the exact opposite.
No pressure or nerves shooting a deer, but when it's a target everything goes to pot.
But apparently I'm not normal.
So my kind friends of the SD have told me.
Many times.

This is me to a tee. I shoot a lot more deer than targets and find targets mildly stressful in comparison

 

[VSS]

This is me to a tee. I shoot a lot more deer than targets and find targets mildly stressful in comparison

How nice to discover that I'm not alone!
Thank you!

(Do you also have a beard and wear sandals, or would that be expecting too much?).

 

[Tyla]

How nice to discover that I'm not alone!
Thank you!

(Do you also have a beard and wear sandals, or would that be expecting too much?).

I'm unshaven, scruffy and wear crocs, is that close enough?

 

[VSS]

I'm unshaven, scruffy and wear crocs, is that close enough?

Sorry, I can't forgive you for crocs

 

[HarryG]

Lay everything out the night before a morning stalk. Better to cover a small amount of ground slowly and thoroughly than race around disturbing everything. Practice with your sticks - dry fire and live fire.